“Better than Shetland”: 7 “outstanding” TV shows to watch this week on ITV, Netflix, the BBC and more

Nothing sets us up for a good week quite like a line-up of unmissable TV shows - and this week is packed with them. To save you the hard work, we’ve previewed every new series coming our way and sorted the good from the bad to bring you the ones that are genuinely outstanding.

From a new detective drama that’s better than Shetland (in our humble opinion!) to the return of The Celebrity Traitors and an explosive new legal that’s set to knock The Split off its throne, we’ve got your weekly watchlist sorted. So, sit back and enjoy our pick of the 7 best shows to watch this week on ITV, Netflix, the BBC and more.

Blue Lights

The BBC’s hit police drama is returning and things are going to get rather stressful for our frontline police officers. Constables Grace Ellis (Sian Brooke), Tommy Foster (Nathan Braniff) and Annie Conlon (Katherine Devlin) are now operating at their limit and are facing a new threat on the streets that proves difficult to control. Meanwhile, the murder trial of Gerry Cliff exposes a long-buried secret that leads to chaos both inside the police, and across the criminal underworld. As they struggle with big decisions about their future, Grace, Tommy and Annie must find a path forward. Series 4 is arriving on BBC One and BBC iPlayer at 9pm on Tuesday 29^th September.

Winter

ITV is going big on the detective dramas this autumn with Winter hot on the heels of The Blame. The brilliantly compelling new series takes us to Bristol where Dr Ethan Winter (Richard Armitage) and no-nonsense detective Lauren Bell (Scholey) are a crime-fighting duo to be reckoned with. There's no crime they can't solve - or so we think. Dr Winter is also secretly carrying out his own investigation concerning a traumatic event from his past and it threatens to consume him entirely. If you're a Shetland fan, you'll be pleased to know we think Winter is even better. Arriving on ITV1 and ITVX at 9pm on Wednesday 30^th September.

The Celebrity Traitors

Calling all Faithfuls and Traitors, the star-studded second series is finally here! Michael Sheen, Richard E. Grant, Miranda Hart, Jerry Hall and Julie Hesmondalgh are among the stars entering the castle and, rumour has it, we can expect more betrayal than ever. the BBC’s director of entertainment, Ed Harvard, said of the new series: “I really wanted to step in and go, ‘no one is actually being murdered.’ I don't want to give too much away, but there are tears in this series.” We can't wait! Arriving on BBC One and BBC iPlayer at 9pm on Thursday 1^st October.

East of Eden

Netflix is bringing John Steinbeck’s 1952 masterpiece to life, which documents the epic saga between the Trask and the Hamilton families in California’s Salinas Valley. The series focuses on the novel’s infamous villain, Cathy Ames (Florence Pugh), whose life becomes entangled with generations of Trask men, notably those of Adam (Christopher Abbott) and Charles (Mike Faist) - as the characters live out the darker side of the California dream. Arriving on Netflix on Thursday 1^st October.

Kill Jackie

There’s no such thing as too many revenge thrillers and Kill Jackie is here to prove the point. Catherine Zeta-Jones leads the cast as Jackie Price, a former cocaine dealer who's escaped a dangerous past and spent the last 20 years trying to stay anonymous. So far, so successful. Only it seems her past is about to catch up with her in spectacular fashion - and the consequences could well be fatal. Arriving on Prime Video on Friday 2^nd October.

War

Sky is gifting us with the arrival of an explosive new legal drama – and what a cast it's got! Set in the high-stakes world of two of London’s most prestigious rival law firms, we'll see Dominic Cooper step into the shoes of Morgan Henderson, while Sienna Miller will play his estranged wife, international film star Carla Duval. As the pair go head to head head-to-head in a truly scandalous divorce case, each side is absolutely certain they'll win – but only one will come out on top. Arriving on Sky Atlantic on Friday 2^nd October.

Blue Murder Motel

ITV has snapped up this glorious series, which takes us to the glorious New Zealand coast where two “former” detectives are juggling running a motel with solving local murders and crimes. What should be the start of a new life making their way in the hospitality business is far from it as Vinny (Michala Banas) and Cole (Brett Tucker) are confronted with a constant stream of crimes associated with their new motel. Think missing people, poisonings and freak accidents. Arriving on ITVX on Sunday 4^th October.